Aromatherapist

Introduction

Aromatherapists use essential oils (extracted from plants) to treat people for a range of conditions. They may use massage as part of the treatment.

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Work Activities

Aromatherapy is the systematic use of essential oils (extracted from plants such as lavender, peppermint or tea tree) in holistic treatments to improve people's physical and emotional well being. Essential oils may be applied to the skin (when diluted in a pure vegetable carrier oil), inhaled or used in the bath.

Aromatherapy is known as holistic therapy because it is based on the idea of treating the whole person (mind, body, emotion) and not just the specific condition that a person may have. It can be used in beauty treatments as well as for therapeutic reasons.

At the client's first consultation, the aromatherapist takes a case history. They ask the client about their condition, their medical history, their lifestyle and their mental and emotional state. The aromatherapist then decides on a course of treatment and blends together the appropriate oils.

In many cases, the treatment includes massage using the oils. This can be either a full body massage or a massage of the affected part of the body, for example, the arms or the back. After the massage, the aromatherapist may sell the client a mixture of oils to use at home, for example to put in the bath, to apply to the skin or to use on a handkerchief.

Sometimes massage may not be needed or may not be possible (for instance if the client has a painful injury). In this case, the aromatherapist may mix oils for the client to use at home.

Between treatments, the aromatherapist will ensure that clean equipment is available and that the treatment couch is ready for the next person. The treatment room needs to be kept warm, clean and tidy.

The aromatherapist may also inform the client's doctor about the treatment.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You will need to have a caring disposition. You must have good listening skills and be patient and sensitive. Massage is physical work involving a lot of time on your feet, so you will need to be fit.

A methodical, holistic approach is needed for diagnosis of the client's problem and for mixing the oils.

Commercial and business skills are needed if you want to set up your own practice.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Earnings for aromatherapists vary, depending on the number of clients they see.

Self-employed aromatherapists charge from about £30 per session. Annual earnings can exceed £30,000 a year, depending on the success of the practice. However, earnings can be considerably less than these, especially when starting out.

Although a few aromatherapists work for the National Health Service (NHS) most practitioners are self-employed. They may choose their hours of work to suit their clients. Evening and weekend work is common and some aromatherapists make home visits.

There may be opportunities to join an established practice.

Some aromatherapists work from home, hire a room at a complementary therapy centre or establish their own treatment centre. There are also opportunities in hospitals, hospices and residential homes, and in health farms and fitness centres.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Entry as a second career is quite common.

• 53% of people in occupations such as aromatherapist are self-employed.
• 48% work part-time.
• 10% have flexible hours.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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